Alfred french



UNrrnn STATES PATENT Cirri-ce.

ALFRED FRENCH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BLACKlNG-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,167, dated November y8, 1881.

Application filed June 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it muy concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED FRENCH, a citizen ot' the United States of America, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blacking-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. l

My invention relates to an improvement in blacking-boxes;v and it consists in combining with a blacking-box having walls with sloping edges a hinged cover, the cover being hinged tothe bottom of the box and used for mixing the blacking with water previously to applying itfto boots or shoes, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l is an isometric view of one form of my blacking-box. Fig. 2is a sectional view, showing, in dotted lines, the portion of the lid when opened i'oruse. Fig. 3 is a plan view in which the dotted lines represent a modifica-V tion.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation, and Figs. 5 and 6 are isometric views of moditied forms ot construction.

The box consists of a bottom having walls on all sides, except the one to which the lid is hinged, forming a space, A, for the reception of the blackin g.

The walls may be vertical, as in Fig. l, or

inclined outwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. The` box may have its corners rounded, as shown -in Fig. l, or it may be constructed with square corners, as shown at a2, Fig. 3.

The side walls are made. sloping, as at a in various figures.

To the open side of the box, at

shown C, is hinged i the lid B, which corresponds to the shape of the Walls, and is provided with the ange b, both for the purpose of fitting over the top -edge of the walls when the box is closed, therebymaking atight joint, and for the purpose ofretaining a small quantity of Water or other liquid which may be used in mixing the blacking when the brush is applied to it.

A good form ot' box is shown at d, Fig. 5, in which the box and lid are Widest where they unite at the hinge, thus giving a large mixingsurface to the lid; but perhaps the best form is shown at Fig. 6. in which the box is provided With inclined or daring walls ce, in addition to being Widest at the hinge, as at d. By

having the walls flaring the box can be the son that when the box is full too much of the blacking is usually applied to the shoes; but in a box constructed as hereinbefore described the lid forms a convenient mixing-surface, and by rubbing the brush in it before applying the blackin g to the shoes the superfluous blackin g will remain in thelid, while that which is retained by the brush will admit of being evenly and thinly applied to the shoes, and will consequently be capable of yielding a higher polish than if it were smearingly applied in the ordinary way. Not only will the blacking contained in a box of this construction give better results, but the large proportion of it which is Wasted in the ordinary boxes will be saved.`

I do not desire to limit myself' to the precise forms of boxes shown, as it is evident that other shapes may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. Ablaeking-box open on one side, having .v

and lid being Widestat the hinge, substantially In testimony whereof I affix my signature in as set forth. presence of two Witnesses.

3. A blaeking-box open on one side, having sloping and flared or inclined sides adjacent ALFRED FRENCH.

thereto, and provided with a lid hinged to the bottom, said bottom and lid being widest at Witnesses:

the hinge, substantial] y as and for the purpose GEO. M. LOCKWOOD, described. A Y l JNO. SMALLWOOD. 

